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Sufi Board Wants Waqf To Be Transferred To Home Department For Protecting Properties Against Encroachments

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Sufi Board Wants Waqf To Be Transferred To Home Department For Protecting Properties Against Encroachments

Mumbai: Even as Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju introduced The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 and proposed sending it to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) after opposition parties objected to its provision, one major group representing Sufi Muslims has supported the bill.

Mansoor Khan, National President of the Sufi Islamic Board, said they had sent recommendations to the Government of India, including the idea that the Waqf Act should be removed from the jurisdiction of the Minority Ministry and brought under the Home Ministry.

“This is because the Minority Ministry neither prevents encroachments nor takes any action against them as it lacks the necessary powers. My recommendation was that if the Home Ministry or any other ministry with prosecution powers takes it under its wing, we can get rid of the illegal encroachments on Waqf properties that have been there for 70 years,” said Khan

Khan said that the law did not concern just Muslims but members of other religious groups as the Islamic concept defined by Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, emphasises the rights of neighbors. “He taught us to take care of one’s neighbors. If we look at it this way, these properties intended for public welfare should be used for the benefit of all humanity.” Sufi is a sect of Islam that incorporates worship at tombs of saints, singing, and rituals. They claim to form a majority of the population.

According to Khan, if the Home Ministry or the state administration takes charge of Waqf properties, the police and District Collector can take action against encroachments, ensuring that the properties are not illegally occupied in the future.

The amended bill provides for a recomposition of the Central Waqf Council and the state Waqf boards to ensure the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies. The bill also proposes the establishment of a separate board for Shia subjects like Bohras and Agakhanis. Currently, only the mainstream Shia community has Waqf boards in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Significantly, the bill omits section 40 which relates to the powers of the Waqf board to decide if a property is Waqf. There have been allegations that land and properties have been arbitrarily declared Waqf.

Members of the opposition have criticised the provisions in the bill. AIMIM Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi said, “This Bill has been brought on the basis of the government’s hatred for the Muslim community and to reward those who have encroached upon Waqf properties. To say that it has been sent to JPC is fine, but it is no such success.”

However, the Sufi Islamic Board said they will not oppose the bill. “As we mentioned, it is being done for Muslim welfare. Tell us one thing that the Waqf Board has achieved for Muslims in the past 70 years. The BJP is a political party, just like Congress, and everyone has their own opinion. What does voting for the BJP or any other party matter in this?” asked Khan.

Maharashtra

70-Year-Old Retired Professor From Nagpur Loses ₹16.5 Lakh In ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam

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Mumbai: A 70-year-old retired professor from Nagpur lost Rs16.50 lakh after falling victim to a digital arrest scam.

The fraudster falsely accused him of involvement in child trafficking and claimed a bank account in Mumbai, allegedly in his name, contained proceeds from the crime. On May 6, the professor received a call from someone claiming a mobile number issued in Bengaluru under his name was used for illegal activities.

The caller then transferred him to a supposed police officer via video call, who showed him a bogus arrest warrant and demanded his Aadhaar details. Claiming the professor needed to appear before Delhi police or face arrest, the scammer said he had been placed under ‘digital arrest’ and instructed him to transfer funds for verification.

Fearing legal trouble, the complainant transferred Rs16.5 lakh across multiple accounts. After receiving vague responses when he asked for his money back, the professor realised he had been cheated and approached the cyber police to file a complaint. According to police officials, further investigation has been taken up.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Airport Receives Bomb Threat, Police Arrest 35-Year-Old Man

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have arrested a 35-year-old man who made a bomb threat call claiming that the Mumbai International Airport would be blown up by 2 PM today. The arrest was made by MIDC Police shortly after the threatening call was received by the Mumbai police control room.

The accused, identified as Manjeet Kumar Gautam, originally hails from Uttar Pradesh but currently resides in the Sakinaka area of Mumbai.

According to officials, Gautam called the police control room and warned, “I will blow up the Mumbai airport by 2 PM today.” The threat triggered immediate security protocols, with bomb detection squads and other security agencies placed on high alert at the airport.

The MIDC police acted swiftly to trace and apprehend the caller. Gautam is currently in custody, and police are investigating the motive behind the call. Initial findings suggest he acted alone.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai police crackdown on drug dealers in Govandi, 6 accused arrested in drug clean campaign, factory exposed

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police had launched a special campaign through the Drug-Free Govandi campaign in the Muslim-majority suburb of Mumbai, in line with which the Mumbai Police has arrested five drug peddlers and seized drugs worth over Rs 18 crore so far, as well as busting a drug factory. This claim was made by Mumbai Police Additional Commissioner Mahesh Patil in a press conference here today. He said that on March 19, RCF police arrested a drug peddler during a patrol and seized 45 grams of MD from his possession and he was arrested under the NDPS Act. During the investigation of this case, the team has succeeded in arresting five drug peddlers. These arrests have been made from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Along with this, 3 kg of MD has been recovered from the possession of the accused. During the investigation of the accused, it was revealed that there is a drug workshop in Karjat-Raigarh, Mumbai and drugs are manufactured here. During the raid, the police have seized more than 5 kg of MD and equipment used to manufacture drugs. So far, 6 accused have been arrested in the case of drug peddlers and drugs worth crores of rupees have also been seized. This operation was carried out by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Police Commissioner (Administration) Satyanarayan Chaudhary and Govandi has been declared drug-free. This campaign was carried out through the campaign. DCP Navnath Dhole and Additional Commissioner Mahesh Patil have also intensified the anti-drug operation in the city for a drug-free Govandi.

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